Advent Trail December 5th - Micah 5:2,5

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times...

and he will be their peace. (Micah 5:1-2)

When the Wise Men came to Jerusalem asking where they might find the new-born king, it was this prophecy from Micah which provided the answer (Matt.2:1-6). Bethlehem was an insignificant village, scarcely worth a mention “among the clans of Judah” and yet it would be the location of the Messiah’s birth.

Centuries earlier, Bethlehem had also been the unlikely birthplace of the great King David, and Micah predicted that from there would also come the promised Ruler who will reign on David’s throne for ever (2 Sam.7:16; Luke 1:33). Though he is David’s descendant, his “origins are from of old”, emphasising the historic link with David but pre-dating it too, for the word “old” can have the sense of “everlasting” (Hab.1:12). The Messiah’s beginnings were rooted with God in eternity (John 1:1-2; John 8:58).

This is a promise not just about the Messiah’s birthplace but also about his purpose – his birth in Bethlehem is not just for us but for God. He “will “come for me”, says God, to fulfil all God’s purposes and bring about God’s eternal rule over the world. And so his coming will also fulfil the deepest longings of God’s people: “He will shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord and they will live securely... And he will be their peace” (Micah 5:4-5).